Ice handling apparatus



Dec. 10, 1940. M JQNES 2,224,479

ICH'HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 10, 1940. M. s. 'JONES ICE HANDLING APPARATUS 4'Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1959 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 10, 1940. I s, JONES 10s HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 22; 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A w f 21.41071 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

102 HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1939- Jar/7 M. 5. JONES 2,224,479-

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

BY M,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE HANDLING APPARATUS Marion S. Jones, Baltimore, Md. Application June 22, 1939, Serial o.- 280,630

15 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling ice and it is designed more especially for use in ice manufacturing plants.

As is well known to those skilled in the art the blocks of ice, as they are produced, are

taken into a storage room where they are compactly stacked for future use. This work generally has been done by hand and, because of the weight of theice blocks it has been diflicult to place the blocks in proper positions on end in the storage room and it has been evenvmore difficult to perform this service without scarring or otherwise mutilating the blocks with the tongs used.

In my copending application, No. 242,101, filed November 23, 1938, there has been disclosed an apparatus for receiving blocks of ice after they leave the can, standing the blocks on end, and positioning them where they can be moved readilv into the storage room. The apparatus referred to is designed primarily for handling a number of blocks of ice simultaneously and is of such a nature as to require assembly ofthe parts and more or less construction work incidental thereto.

An-object of the present invention is to provide an ice handling apparatus which canbe delivered as a complete unit and, while useful in plants of all sizes, is especially desirable in connection with ice manufacturing plants where the production is rapid.

A further object of the invention is to provid a self-contained unit of this character which, when properly placed in position-relative to the ice block carrier usually employed, will operate au omaticallyrto receive a block of ice, while in a prone position, stand it on end, discharge it onto a delivery platform, and then automatically reset itself in position to receive another block.

Another object is to provide an ice handling unit of this character which is simple in construction, can be installed readily, and will not eas ly get out of order.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the nvention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement, of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure l is an elevation showing the delivery side of the ice handling unit, the parts being shown in their normal positions.

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section therethrough, the positionof the tiltable platform and parts associated therewith during the delivery of a standing block of ice, being indicated bybroken lines.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line 44, ure 1 Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the unit above the tiltable platform with the parts in the positions assumed thereby during the delivery of a block of ice while standing on end.

Figure 6 is a sectionon the line 6- 5, Figure 2.

Figure -7 is a view in diagram showing the motor circuit. v l

Referringto' the figures by characters of reference, I designates'the bed of the unit formed preferably of suitably connected angle members, the sides of the base being joined solely at the ends sothat'a'n unobstructed space is left between the sides extending throughout the length of the bed or base. superposed parallel rails 2 and 3 extend inwardly from the upper portion of each side of the bed and these rails cooperate to provide a track in which is'movably mounted a carriage 4 having an upwardly extending portion '5 the top 6 of which constitutes a seat proportioned to receive and support the lower end of a block of ice while in an upright position.

The carriage 4 is normally positioned upon the receiving end of the unit as shown in Figures 1 and '2 and supported under the carriage by one 35 side of the bed I is a stubshaft I on which is mounted a sprocket 8. f A driveshaft 9 extends into the bed I from one side thereof and has a sprocket l0 secured to it. An endless chain II is mounted on the, .two sprockets and carries a 40 wrist pin 12 which is joined by a connecting rod l3 to the carriage 4 as shown at l4. Thus when chain It is driven by the rotating sprocket l0 and drive shaft 9, thewrist pin l2 will transmit motion to the connecting rod l3 and will travel 45 from the position shown by full lines in Figure 2 to the position shown by broken lines in said figure, therebycausing the carriage 4 to move longitudinally along its track from one end to the other of the bed. As the chain continues to operate, it will thrust through the rod 13 against the carriageand move said carriage back to its initial position as shown by full lines in Figure 2.

A superstructure I5 is erected rigidly on the bed I and is open at the front end, as shown at I6, so that a block of ice while in a prone position, will be able to move through said open end and into the unit. The other end and the sides of the superstructure are open except for a rigid side plate I! which extends from the back end of the superstructure forwardly to a point adjacent to the center thereof. This side plate has a cam slot I8 therein extending from a point adjacent to the lower portionpof thejorward end of the plate and curved abruptly in an upward direction, this upwardly curved portion I9 merging at an abrupt angle into a horizontally arranged extension 20 of the slot leading toward the back end of plate IT. The walls :of itheislot can be strengthened by means ofufianges 2| or the like which cooperate to form a-cam'=track.

Shaft 9 is actuated preferably.bynaneelectric motor 22 which can be located at any desired point and can be coupled to the shaft "by-any means provided for that purpose. Included inthe motor circuit is a .switch =2.3.,of ,the .well. known ratchet type which, inrthe present instance, is adapted to be opened .and closed .byrsuccessive thrusts in one direction againsta switchlever 24. Supported in the superstructure l5 islasswitch actuating lever 25 one. .endl2-6of whichlistlocated adjacent to lever 24 oftheswitchtwhile the other end can be connected ..by arrod .21 toa'bell crank 28 fulcrumed adjacentltolonebside of thecarriage 4 where it can be tripped by a pin 29 extending .laterally from the upwardlylextended portion 5 of the carriage. In other .wordswhen thiscarriage is moved .away from the position shown in Figure 2, pin 29 will slip,past the :bell crank and swing the end '26. of lever 25 downwardly away from switch lever124. However, when -,the carriage 4 is moved from the brokeniline position shown atthe left of Figure '2 to.-the-full-line;posi- 'tion shown at the right .of .saidfigure, the ;.pin

29 .will wipe past the .bell,crank.l28 ,and actuate itso asto cause the bell cranktothrust upwardly through the endZB ofilever 25 .againstswitch ,lever 24 and thus shutoff the current to the (motor.

The upwardly projecting ,portiom5cf the carriage .4 has extendingears ,30\t o which is pivotally connected the frame .3l .ofa .platforml32. platform has an supstandingframe33 atoneside This closedlby a side plates34. lThesother side of the platform is open and ,the same ,is likewise true of the frontend of .the,platf.orm which -is that send facing the inlet ,opening N5 of .the superstructure IS. The backuendrofsthe platform:is

provided with a transverse abutment .3.5Aextend- ,ing throughout the width of theplatformland extending from vonesside of ;frame .30.isy.a bear- 3'ls-seatedwin cam slot-l8. B1atform32 is normally below thelevel of the seat-5 .and -,thatend of the seat nearest .the platforml 32 is ,preferably :rounded as shown alt-.39.

Located belowand a, connected .to'othe platform 32 is a tripping lever 40 {one rend of --which .is weighted ,as indicated sat 4 I while the other. end has ahead 42' extending upwardly through a-slot 43 in I the platform 1 between the sides thereof.

The lever-40 which i-szimthenature;ofabroad plate, is 'provided near-one-side :withan extension 44 to which is pivotally connectedcarrod 45 rthev-upper end-of which is pivotallyattached to one end of a lever 46 fulcrumed, between its ends, as at 41, on a plate 48 located above the opening at the front or receiving end of the platform structure. This lever, in turn, has a plunger 49 pivotally attached to its other end and this plunger, which is guided within the framework of the platform structure, is normally positioned at one side of the end 26 of lever 25 and below the switch lever 24.

Spaced brackets are secured to the top portion of the sideframe .33, as-shown at .150 and mounted for rotation in these brackets is "ashaft 5| to which are secured parallel arms 52 adapted to move with the shaft. A crank arm 53 is secured :toand extended laterally from shaft 5| and is connected by a rod 54 to the short arm of a lever 55. This lever, which is fulcrumed at 56, is extended along theouter side of the plate 34 as indicated by broken lines in Figure 2 and a spring .5liis secured at one end to the lever and at its other end to the frame 33 so as to exert a constant upward pull upon .that end portion ofthe lever connected to'the rod 54. .The other end of lever 55 extends. adjacent to one side of'the forward end of platform .32 and is so located that when the platform is tiltedand moved backwardly as hereinafter explained,.said end of the lever will come against a stop bracket 58 carried by '.the ;bed I and asindicated .bybroken lines in Figure 2.

The arms 52 are'preferably joined rigidly as at59 so as to form a frame and this frame is extended between 'L.-shaped ejector members 60 'to which they are connected by a pivot shaft'lil The ejector members are joined ,by cross slats 62 and "the ejector :formed by hese members and slats isnormally positioned as shown in Figure 3 .with.one end portion .extending downwardly ad- 'jacent to theplate l'l' while the other end portion is extended laterally toward the open side of the superstructure 5'so as ,to'overlie theplatform 32. The free ends of the overlyingportions of .ejector members '60 are connected by links 63 to the top-portion of the frame 33of'theplatform so that under normal conditions the arms 52 and links 63 cooperate witlf'the topportion of frame 33 and theoupper portion of ,the ejector formed :by member 60 and slats B2, to form a paralleloraph.

.A delivery platform 64 is extended laterally from the open side of frame I5 to such position that it will be substantially flush with the seat 6 of the carriage 4 when said carriage is brought to its rear position as indicated by broken lines in Figurel2. .A feed chute 65 is positionedto re- ,ceive .ice blocks .in .prone positionas :they are supplied to the inlet opening [6 andthis chute is inclined downwardly over but out of contact with the seat'6 and, when the platform.32 is in its .normal .position, as shown in .Figure 2, ice sliding in a .prone position valong thechute '65 will be delivered in said position on the .platform 32.

'As'has been stated heretofore the present apparatus is to .be made in -a self-contained unit blocks has frequently marred them by chipping and scarring the surfaces. Instead of providing men for standing the blocks on end as they leave the conveyer, the present apparatus is to be installed at the point where the blocks of ice are successively delivered from the carrier or 'conveyer. It is intended to so locate the inlet openings l6 that each block of ice as it arrives in a noted that as soon as the prone block of ice is delivered to platform 32, it will press downwardly ontothe head 42 of lever 40 and this will cause the extension 44 of the lever to pull downwardly through rod 45 upon lever 46 which, in turn, will thrust upwardly through rod 39 against switch lever 34 so as to close the circuit to the motor. As the motor is operatively connected to shaft 9, it will immediately drive the shaft and this will cause the chain H to travel in the. direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. Consequently the connecting rod 13 which is coupled to the chain, will pull on the carriage 4 and cause the carriage to move backwardly away from the inlet chute 55. This movement will cause the roller 31 to travel rearwardly and upwardly within slot l8 until it reaches the upper extension 20 of this slot Whereupon theroller will travel rearwardly in a substantially horizontal direction. During this movement of the roller the platform 32 will be swung to an angle of ninety degrees so that the block of ice, which was prone on the platform 32, will be swung upwardly until one end thereof is brought to rest upon the seat 6. At the same time the ejector is swung from the position shown by full lines in Figure 2 to the position shown by broken lines in said figure and as the carriage begins to move backwardly after the platform has been'swung to ninety degrees, lever 55 comes against the stop bracket 58 and is actuated against the tension of spring 51. Thus motion istransmitted from the lever through rod 54 to the crank arm 53 and shaft 5| is caused to turn. As the frame made up of arms 52 and their connections 59 is rigidly secured to this shaft 5|, said frame will be caused to swing toward the open side of the unit with the result that the ejector formed by the members fill-and the slats 62 will engage two surfaces of the block of ice which is in standing position and slide 1 said block ofi of platform 32 and onto the delivery platform 64. From this point the block can be slid by hand into the storage room.

Following the delivery of the block of ice as described, the connecting rod I3 is carried forwardly by wrist pin l2 after it moves around the rear sprocket Ill so that said rod l3 will thus thrust against the carriage and move it and the connected parts back to the initial or starting position as shown in Figure 2. During this operation lever 55 will move away from bracket 58 so that spring 51 can return the ejector and other parts associated therewith to their initial positions. Roller 3'! will travel forwardly in extension 20 of slot l8 and thence downwardly in the curved portion 19 of the slot until the platform 32 reassumes the position shownin Figure 2. As the carriage approaches its starting point the bell crank 28 is engaged by pin 23 so as to be actuated with the result that motion will be transmitted therefrom through rod 21 and lever 25 to the switch lever 24 which thus will be actuated to shut off the current to the motor.

The apparatus is thus reset ready to again move through another cycle of operation such as has been described.

'It will be obvious that as soon as the block of ice is moved into an upstanding position, the weight thereof is removed from head 42 of lever 4|! so that when the platform 32 is restored to its normal position, said lever and the parts controlled thereby will return to their normal positions.

In order to effect strong connections between the links 63, ejector members 60, and frame 33, it is preferred to extend the pivot shaft transversely through these parts as shown at 66.

A stirrup 61 can be connected to the carriage so as to extend downwardly therefrom and move under the lower flight of chain H to prevent the lower fiight of the chain H from sagging under the weight of the rod [3. This shaft will move forwardly adjacent to the wrist pin l2 as it travels from sprocket ID to sprocket 8.

Resetting of the ejector can be aided by a stop bracket 58' located close to and movable with platform 32. This'is positioned so as to engage the end of lever 55 and thrust up upon it when the parts are brought to normal or starting positions, thereby holding the ejector positively in full retracted position.

Obviously the apparatus herein described can be built as a complete unit, shipped to the point of use, and quickly set up at any point where it is convenient to receive the prone blocks of ice delivered from the carrier platform commonly employed in ice manufacturing plants.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a stationary structure having an inlet, of a carriage slidable in the structure, a platform hingedly connected thereto and normally positioned to receive a prone block of ice from the inlet, a motor, means operated by the motor for moving the carriage and platform away from the inlet, motor starting mechanism positioned for actuation by a prone block of ice when directed onto the platform, and cooperating means on the stationary structure and the platform for swinging said platform during the movement of the carriage, said platform being positioned to deposit the sup ported ice block on end upon the carriage.

2. A'self-contained ice handling unit including'a stationary structure having an inlet, a

carriage slidable in the structure, a platform hingedly connected to the carriage and normally positioned to receive a prone block of ice from the inlet, a motor, means operated by the motor for moving the carriage and platform away from and towards the inlet successively, motor starting mechanism positioned for actuation by a prone block of ice when directed onto the platform, cooperating means on the stationary structure and the platform for swinging said platform in one direction during the movement of the carriage away from the inlet, said platto its initial position during the movement of the carriage toward the inlet, and means operated by the carriage while approaching the inlet for stopping the motor.

3. A 'self-containedicei handling Lunit including a stationary structure having an inlet at one end and a side outlet, a carriage slidable in the structure between the inlet and the outlet, a :platform hingedly connected to the carriageand normally positioned to receive a prone block .of ic'efromthe inlet, a motor, means operatedby the motor for-moving thecarriage and platform from the inlet and toward the outlet, motor starting mechanism positioned for actuation by aprone block of ice when directed onto theplatform, and cooperating means onthe stationary structure and the platform for swinging said platform during the movement of the carriage toward the outlet the said platform being positioned to deposit the supported ice block on end upon the carriage while approaching the outlet.

4. A self-contained ice handling unit includingaistationary structure having an inlet-at one end and a side outlet, a carriage slidable in the structure between theinlet and the outlet, a platform hingedly connected to the carriage and normally positioned to receive a prone block of ice from the inlet,a motor, means operated by the \motorfor moving the carriage and platform from the inlet and toward the outlet, motor starting mechanism'positioned for actuation by aprone block of ice when directed onto the platform, and cooperating'means on the stationary structure and the platform for swingingsaid platform during the'movement of the carriage toward the outlet, the said platform beingrpositioned to deposit the'supported ice blockon end upon the carriage while approaching the outlet, an ejector movable with the carriage, and means controlled by the movement of the carriage relative tothe stationary structure for actuatingthe'ejectorwhile adjacent to the outlet.

:5. 'A-self-contained ice handling unit including .a stationary structure, having an ice inlet and an ice outlet, a carriage slidable-in the structure, a-platform hingedly connected thereto and'normally'positioned to receive a prone block'ofice from the inlet, a motor, means operated by the motor for moving the carriage and platform from the inlet toward the outlet and back to the inlet successively, motor controlling mechanism positioned for actuation by a'proneblockof ice when directed onto the platform, thereby to start the motor, cooperating means'on the stationary structure and the platform for swinging said platform upwardly during the movement of the carriage toward the outlet, saidplatform being-positioned to deposit the supported prone block on end upon the carriage-during the completion 'of saidswinging movement, an ejector movable withthe platform means oper-ated by .the movement of the platform relative to the carriage for ejectingthe iceblock through the outlet from the carriage'said cooperating means lon'the stationary structure and platform-being operable to return the platform to its initial position during the movement of the carriage toward the inlet, means released by the movement of the carriage toward the inlet for returning the ejector to-itsrnormalposition, andmeans controlled by the carriage on reaching the inlet, .for stopping the 'motor.

-6. A-self-contained ice handling apparatus including a carriage, a track therefor, a motor for moving the carriage back and forth, means for controlling the actuation of the motor, a platform movably connected to the carriage, means for directing a prone block of ice onto the plat :form, means operated :by thei-block l of ice when :deposited on the'platform',":for actuating the :motor controlling means, thereby :to start the motor and propel the carriage and platform, means for'swing'ing the platform while :the :carriage is moving inone direction'to transfer :the prone block .of ice'to anzupstandingposition-on the carriage, and means #controlled byrthe move- 'ment of the carriagein one-direction for ejecttrolled by;the ice when deposited on the platform for starting the motor, thereby to movethe carriage and platform together 'in'opposlte directions successively, means for swingingthe platform relative tothe carriage when the-platform is moved in o'nedirection thereby to transfer" the prone block of ice into 'an upstanding position on the carriage, said means operating'to-return the platform tonormal 'position'when the car riage is moved in the opposite-direction, and means controlled by -the movement of :the carriage in one direction for ejecting the block of ice from the carriage after being deposited thereon by the platform.

8. A self-contained ice handling unit-including a carriage, a-track therefona motor for imparting back and forth movement to'the carriage, a

platform movably connected to and movableiwith the carriage, means for I directing a prone block of ice onto the platform, meanscontrolledby-the ice when deposited on theplatform for-starting the motor, thereby to move-the carriage and platform togetherin opposite directions successively,-means controlled by movement of the platform in one direction 'for swinging it relative-to the carriage thereby to transferthe prone block of ice into'an upstandingpositionon the carriage, said means operating to return the -platform to normal position when the carriage is moved in the opposite direction,-and means "controlled by the movement of the'carriage in-one direction for ejecting the'block of ice from the carriage after being 'deposited thereon by the platform, and means operated by the carriage upon the completion of 'one of-its movements for stopping the'motor.

9. In an ice handlin'g'apparatus a carri-age, a

track therefor, an endless chain, a connection between said chain and the carriage, a motor for actuating the chain, said chainwand connection. constituting means for reciprocating -the carriage, a platform hingedly connected to the carriage, means for directing a prone block ofice over the carriage and onto the platform,means actuated by the block of ice when deposited on the platform for starting-the motor, 'means'cooperating with the platformfor'swinging it rela tive to the carriage during'the movement of the carriage in one direction thercbyto transfer the prone block-of ice fromthe platform to 'an .upstanding position on the carriage, and means controlled by the carriage .uponcompleting its movement in the opposite-direction for stopping a platform hingedly connected to the carriage, means for directing a prone block of ice over the carriage and onto the platform, means actuated by the block of ice when deposited on the platform for starting the motor, means cooperating with the platform for swinging it relative to the carriage during the movement of the carriage in one direction thereby to transfer the prone block of ice from the platform to an upstanding position on the carriage, an ejector movable with the platform, means controlled by the movement of the platform and carried in one direction for actuating the ejector to expel the upstanding block of ice from the carriage, and means operated by gagement with the cam, said means and cam oooperating to swing the platform relative to the carriage during the movement of the carriage in one direction, thereby to transfer the prone block of ice on the platform to an upstanding position on the carriage, means operated by the block of ice when deposited on the platform, for starting the motor to drive the carriage and platform in said direction to swing the platform, and to subsequently return the platform and carriage to their starting positions, and means. con-trolled by the carriage on reaching its starting position, for stopping the motor.

12. Ice handling apparatus including a stationary structure, a cam carried thereby including an upwardly curved portion merging into a substantially horizontally extended portion, a carriage mounted for back and forth motion, a motor, means actuated by the motor for imparting back and forth motion to the carriage, a platform hingedly connected to the carriage and normally positioned to receive a prone block of ice, means carried by the platform for moving engagement with the cam, said means and cam operating to swing the platform relative to the carriage during the movement of the carriage in one direction, thereby to transfer the prone block of ice on the platform to an upstanding position on the carriage, means operated by the block of ice when deposited on the platform, for starting the motor to drive the carriage and platform in said direction to swing the platform, and to subsequently return the platform and carriage to their starting positions, an ejector movable with the platform, means controlled by the sliding movement of the platform in one direction for actuating the ejector to shift the block of ice from the carriage, means released by the movement of the carriage toward its point of starting for returning the ejecting means to initial position, and means operated by the carriage on reaching its point of starting for stopping the motor.

, 13. The combination with a carriage and a motor operativ'ely connected thereto for reciprocating the carriage, of a platform hingedly connected to the carriage, means for swinging the platform relative to the carriage during the movement of the carriage in one direction for transferring a prone block of ice upon the platform to upstanding position on the carriage, and means controlled by the movement of the carriage and platform in one direction for ejecting the block of ice on the carriage.

14. The combination with a carriage and a motor operatively connected thereto for reciprocating the carriage, of a platform hingedly connected to the carriage, means for swinging the platform relative to the carriage during the movement of the carriage in one direction for transferring a prone block of ice upon the platform to upstanding position on the carriage, and means'controlled by the movement of the carriage and platform in one direction for ejecting the block of ice on the carriage, said ejecting means including separate angular members, slots connected therebetween, a rock shaft movable with the platform, arms secured to the shaft and pivotally connected to said members, links connecting said members and positioned for cooperation with the arms to form substantially a parallelogram, a spring-restrained lever movable with the platform, an operative connection between said lever and the rock shaft, and means positioned for engagement by the lever following the swinging movement of the platform and during the movement of the carriage for actuating said lever and the rock shaft, said ejector being positioned to engage and thrust against the block of ice upstanding on the carriage.

15. In ice handling apparatus a platform tiltably mounted, means for directing a block of ice 1 in a prone position into the platform, means for tilting the platform to up-end the block, and means controlled by the tilting of the platform while up-ending the block, for ejecting the upended block laterally from the platform.

MARION S. JONES. 

